Chrysanthemum plant named `Dark Splendid Reagan`

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of chrysanthemum plant named Dark Splendid Reagan, bearing medium sized purple blooms with a yellow-green center and performance of 24-28 days.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant which is a natural occurring sport of a parent Chrysanthemum named Reagan. Parent Chrysanthemum Reagan is described in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,642. The new cultivar was discovered as a whole plant mutation in 1991 in a greenhouse in Holland. Other naturally occurring mutations of `Reagan` for which U. S. Plant Patent protection is being sought include the cultivar `Dark Red Reagan` (copending plant patent application Ser. No. 08/642,905) and `Sunny Reagan` (copending plant patent application Ser. No. (08/642,904).

The invention has been asexually reproduced by cuttings at the same location. The new cultivar has been found to retain all of its distinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a new and distinct variety of Chrysanthemum of a medium sized bloom and purple color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention of a new and distinct variety of Chrysanthemum is shown in the accompanying drawings, the color being as nearly true as possible with color photographs of this type.

FIG. 1 shows the full bloom of the new cultivar.

FIG. 2 shows the various stages of bloom of the new cultivar.

FIG. 3 shows foliage and petiole of the new cultivar.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This new variety of Chrysanthemum is of the botanical classification Chrysanthemum morifolium. When grown in the vicinity of Ter Aar, Holland, it has a response time of approximately 71/2 weeks. This new variety produces medium sized purple blooms with a yellow-green center having a 4 week performance (i.e., vase life of 24-28 days). This new variety of Chrysanthemum has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics throughout successive propagations and may be planted under greenhouse conditions in Holland between weeks 50 and 35.

The following is a description of the plant and characteristics (color designations are from R.H.S. Color Chart) that distinguish it from related known varieties and its antecedents: The color designations are taken from the plant itself. Accordingly, any discrepancies between the color designations and the colors depicted in the photographs are due to photographic tolerances.

    ______________________________________                                         Detailed Botanical Description and Comparative Data                            ______________________________________                                                                   Parent                                               CULTIVAR  Dark Splendid Reagan                                                                           Cultivar Reagan                                      ______________________________________                                         Bud                                                                            Size      Medium cross section                                                                           Medium cross                                                   ±1.0 cm height ±0.7 cm                                                                   section ±1.0 cm                                                             height ±0.7 cm                                    Form      Round and flat  Round and flat                                       Outside Color                                                                            Near Red-Purple 70A                                                                            Greyed Purple                                                                  186D but paler                                       Bloom                                                                          Size      Medium          Medium                                               Fully Expanded                                                                           61/2-7 cm       61/2-7 cm                                            Borne     Upper portion, single                                                                          Upper portion, single                                          flower per      flower per                                                     peduncle, lower peduncle, lower                                                portion plural flowers                                                                         portion plural flowers                                         per peduncle    per peduncle                                         Peduncle  Near the top ±14 cm,                                                                        Near the top ±14 cm,                              Lengths   near the middle ±24                                                                         near the middle ±24                                         cm, near the bottom                                                                            cm, near the bottom                                            ±28 cm       ±28 cm                                            Peduncle  medium          medium                                               Lateral Shoot,                                                                 Attachment                                                                     Peduncle  small           medium                                               Lateral Shoot,                                                                 Angle                                                                          Form      Single (Daisy)  Single (Daisy)                                       Performance                                                                              Very good 24-28 days                                                                           Very good 24-28 days                                           (18-20° C.)                                                                             (18-20° C.)                                   Color                                                                          Center of Immature:       Immature:                                            Flower    Yellow-Green 144A                                                                              Yellow-Green 151C                                              Mature:         Mature:                                                        Yellow-Green 154A                                                                              Yellow-Green 154A                                    Base of Petals                                                                           Near Red-Purple 71C                                                                            Purple 75B                                                     but very slightly                                                              more blue                                                            Outer Petals                                                                             Near Red-Purple 71C                                                                            Purple 75B                                                     but very slightly                                                              more blue                                                            Inside of Near Red-Purple 71C                                                                            Purple 75B                                           Petals    but very slightly                                                              more blue                                                            Reverse of                                                                               Nearest Purple-Violet                                                                          Red-Purple 69D                                       Petals    80D but more grey and                                                                          but paler                                                      with a slightly deep-                                                          er tonation                                                          Tonality from                                                                            A purple daisy with a                                                                          A pale pink daisy with                               Distance  fresh looking center                                                                           a fresh looking                                                having a little or no                                                                          center having a little                                         pollen          or no pollen                                         Discoloration                                                                            Some to Red-Purple                                                                             Some to Red-Purple                                             72C             69D                                                  Pollen    Yellow-Orange 14A                                                                              Yellow-Orange 14A                                    Petals                                                                         Texture   Upperside smooth,                                                                              Upperside smooth,                                              underside smooth                                                                               underside smooth                                     Number    24-30 (two rows)                                                                               24-30 (two rows)                                     Cross-section                                                                            convex, no keels                                                                               flat, two keels                                      Arrangement                                                                              Imbricated      Imbricated                                           Persistence                                                                              Good. Petals keep                                                                              Good. Petals keep                                              straight or reflex                                                                             straight or reflex                                             somewhat at the edge at                                                                        somewhat at the edge                                           the end of blooming                                                                            at the end of                                                                  blooming                                             Fragrance Typical Chrysanthemum                                                                          Typical                                                                        Chrysanthemum                                        Disc      Medium to large Medium (1.5 cm)                                      Diameter  (1.5-2.0 cm)                                                         Reproductive                                                                   Organs                                                                         Stamen    Yellow, thick, 3 mm                                                                            Yellow, thick, 3 mm                                            in length       in length                                            Pollen    Appears at late stage                                                                          Appears at late stage                                          of blooming     of blooming                                          Styles    Green, thick    Green, thick                                         Style Length                                                                             ±5 mm        ±5 mm                                             Stigmas   Yellow          Yellow                                               Stigma Width                                                                             ±1 mm        ±1 mm                                             Ovaries   Enclosed in calyx                                                                              Enclosed in calyx                                    Plant                                                                          Form      Spray mum meant for                                                                            Spray mum meant for                                            erect culture.  erect culture.                                                 Herbaceous.     Herbaceous.                                          Growth    Medium          Strong                                               Height    100-125 cm      100-125 cm                                           Stem Color                                                                               Yellow-Green 144A                                                                              Yellow-Green 144A                                    Stem Strength                                                                            Strong          Medium                                               Stem Brittleness                                                                         Absent          Present                                              Stem      Present, at the base and                                                                       Absent                                               Anthocyanin                                                                              along the ribs                                                       Coloration                                                                     Internodes                                                                               3 cm            3 cm                                                 Flowering 71/2 weeks      71/2 weeks                                           Response                                                                       Foliage                                                                        Color     Upperside Green 137A.                                                                          Upperside Green                                                Underside Green 137C.                                                                          137A.                                                                          Underside Green                                                                137C.                                                Size      Length ±11 cm.                                                                              Length ±12 cm.                                              Width ±9 cm. Width ±9 cm.                                      Quantity  22-28           22-28                                                Shape     Lobed, see photograph                                                                          Lobed, see photograph                                Texture   Upperside rough,                                                                               Upperside rough,                                               underside smooth,                                                                              underside smooth,                                              slightly hirsute                                                                               slightly hirsute                                     Ribs and  Ribs well developed.                                                                           Ribs well developed.                                 Veins     Veins not so    Veins not so                                                   developed.      developed.                                           Edge      Crenated        Crenated                                             Shape of Base                                                                            Round           Round                                                of Sinus                                                                       Between                                                                        Lateral Lobes                                                                  Margin of Converging      Converging                                           Sinus Between                                                                  Lateral Lobes                                                                  Shape of  Cordate         Rounded                                              Base                                                                           Apex      Mucronate       Cupsidate                                            Response time                                                                  Difference in                                                                            +1              0                                                    days of average                                                                response                                                                       Response to                                                                    ALAR                                                                           Dose utilized to                                                                         300             300                                                  obtain plant                                                                   height of a-                                                                   bout 90 cm                                                                     Year of   1991            1986                                                 Discovery                                                                      ______________________________________                                         CULTIVAR  Dark Red Reagan Sunny Reagan                                         ______________________________________                                         Bud                                                                            Size      Medium cross section                                                                           Medium cross section                                           ±1.0 cm height ±0.7 cm                                                                   ±1.0 cm                                                                     height ±0.7 cm                                    Form      Round and flat  Round and flat                                       Outside   Near Greyed Purple                                                                             Between Yellow                                       Color     186A            7A/Yellow 9A                                         Bloom                                                                          Size      Medium          Medium                                               Fully Expanded                                                                           61/2-7 cm       61/2-7 cm                                            Borne     Upper portion, single                                                                          Upper portion, single                                          flower per peduncle,                                                                           flower per peduncle,                                           lower portion plural                                                                           lower portion plural                                           flower per peduncle                                                                            flower per peduncle                                  Peduncle  Near the top ±14 cm,                                                                        Near the top ±14 cm,                              Lengths   near the middle near the middle                                                ±24 cm, near the                                                                            ±24 cm, near the                                            bottom ±28 cm                                                                               bottom ±28 cm                                     Peduncle  Weak to medium  medium                                               Lateral Shoot,                                                                 Attachment                                                                     Peduncle  small           medium                                               Lateral Shoot,                                                                 Angle                                                                          Form      Single (Daisy)  Single (Daisy)                                       Performance                                                                              Very good 24-28 Very good 24-28                                                days (18-20° C.)                                                                        days (18-20° C.)                              Color                                                                          Center of Immature:       Immature:                                            Flower    Yellow-Green 144A                                                                              Yellow-Green 144A                                              Mature:         Mature:                                                        Yellow-Green 154A                                                                              Yellow-Green 154A                                    Base of   Unevenly colored; near                                                                         Yellow 5A deepening                                  Petals    Greyed-Red 182A slightly to                                                    lightly streaked with                                                                          Yellow 6A in the                                               Greyed-Orange 167B                                                                             basal half                                           Outer Petals                                                                             Unevenly colored; near                                                                         Yellow 5A deepening                                            Greyed-Red 182A slightly to                                                    lightly streaked with                                                                          Yellow 6A in the                                               Greyed-Orange 167B                                                                             basal half                                           Inside of Unevenly colored; near                                                                         Yellow 5A deep-                                      Petals    Greyed-Red 182A ening slightly to                                              lightly streaked with                                                                          Yellow 6A in the                                               Greyed-Orange 167B                                                                             basal half                                           Reverse of                                                                               Yellow-White 158A                                                                              Yellow 6A                                            Petals    tinged with Greyed-                                                            Purple 186D between                                                            the ribs and towards                                                           the margin                                                           Tonality from                                                                            A red daisy with a                                                                             A yellow daisy with a                                Distance  fresh looking center                                                                           fresh looking center                                           having a little or no                                                                          having a little of no                                          pollen          pollen                                               Discoloration                                                                            Some to Greyed-Red                                                                             Some to Yellow 5B                                              181C                                                                 Pollen    Yellow-Orange 14A                                                                              Yellow-Orange 14A                                    Petals                                                                         Texture   Upperside smooth,                                                                              Upperside smooth,                                              underside smooth                                                                               underside smooth                                     Number    24-30 (two rows)                                                                               24-30 (two rows)                                     Cross-section                                                                            convex, two keels                                                                              convex, two keels                                    Arrangement                                                                              Imbricated      Imbricated                                           Persistence                                                                              Good. Petals keep                                                                              Good. Petals keep                                              straight or reflex                                                                             straight or reflex                                             somewhat at the edge                                                                           somewhat at the edge                                           at the end of blooming.                                                                        at the end of                                                                  blooming.                                            Fragrance Typical Chrysanthemum                                                                          Typical                                                                        Chrysanthemum                                        Disc      Medium to large Medium to large                                      Diameter  (1.5-2.0 cm)    (1.5-2.0 cm)                                         Reproductive                                                                   Organs                                                                         Stamen    Yellow, thick, 3 mm                                                                            Yellow, thick, 3 mm                                            in length       in length                                            Pollen    Appears at late stage                                                                          Appears at late stage                                          of blooming     of blooming                                          Styles    Green, thick    Green, thick                                         Style Length                                                                             ±5 mm        ±5 mm                                             Stigmas   Yellow          Yellow                                               Stigma Width                                                                             ±1 mm        ±1 mm                                             Ovaries   Enclosed in calyx                                                                              Enclosed in calyx                                    Plant                                                                          Form      Spray mum meant for                                                                            Spray mum meant for                                            erect culture.  erect culture.                                                 Herbaceous.     Herbaceous.                                          Growth    Medium          Strong                                               Height    100-125 cm      100-125 cm                                           Stem Color                                                                               Yellow-Green 144A                                                                              Yellow-Green 144A                                    Stem Strength                                                                            Strong          Strong                                               Stem      Absent          Absent                                               Brittleness                                                                    Stem      Present, at the base                                                                           Present, mainly at                                   Anthocyanin                                                                              and along the ribs                                                                             the base                                             Coloration                                                                     Internodes                                                                               3 cm            3 cm                                                 Flowering 71/2 weeks      71/2 weeks                                           Response                                                                       Foliage                                                                        Color     Upperside Green 137B.                                                                          Upperside Green                                                Underside Green 137C.                                                                          137A.                                                                          Underside Green                                                                137C.                                                Size      Length ±11 cm.                                                                              Length ±12 cm.                                              Width ±9 cm. Width ±9 cm.                                      Quantity  22-28           22-28                                                Shape     Lobed, see photograph                                                                          Lobed, see photograph                                Texture   Upperside rough,                                                                               Upperside rough,                                               underside smooth,                                                                              underside smooth,                                              slightly hirsute                                                                               slightly hirsute                                     Ribs and  Ribs well developed.                                                                           Ribs well developed.                                 Veins     Veins not so developed.                                                                        Veins not so                                                                   developed.                                           Edge      Crenated        Crenated                                             Shape of Base                                                                            Round           Round                                                of Sinus                                                                       Between                                                                        Lateral Lobes                                                                  Margin of Converging      Converging                                           Sinus Between                                                                  Lateral Lobes                                                                  Shape of Base                                                                            Cordate         Truncate                                             Apex      Mucronate       Mucronate                                            Response time                                                                  Difference in                                                                            +11/2           +11/2                                                days of average                                                                response                                                                       Response to                                                                    ALAR                                                                           Dose utilized to                                                                         300             450                                                  obtain plant                                                                   height of                                                                      about 90 cm                                                                    Year of   1992            1991                                                 Discovery                                                                      ______________________________________                                     

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Chrysanthemum plant as described and illustrated. 